Backing up a truck not as easy as it seems!

too many students and not enough teachers or trucks...and those trucks are a joke..you'll take your road test in 810 hopefully...i enjoyed going shifting in the freightliner. Rick is a good teacher he has lots of patience...problem is you spend more time waiting for your turn in the trucks

 

I start school tomorrow and will be taking all these tips with me, thanx guys, and gals!!!!!!

 

You have to counter-steer each time you see the trailer straighten out ..and fast ! Turning the wheel fast is the key. As soon as you see the trailer start to drift, turn the wheel in the same direction as the trailer is drifting..... and as soon as the trailer is straight... counter-steer fast ! Moving the wheel fast let's you 'stay ahead' of the trailer. Don't be timid when spinning the wheel. Eventually you'll get the hang of it and won't have to worry about twisting the wheel right off the column because you'll anticipate much easier with experience. The faster the truck moves in reverse, the faster you have to turn the wheel !

 

actually backing a trailer, straight back as your example, you do not need to turn the wheel "FAST". Turning a wheel more than a few degrees when straight backing is all you have to do. No need for large amounts of steering input. telling a driver to "turn fast" is a tip that will just get the other driver in trouble. And when backing, your foot should NEVER be on the throttle. No need to be stepping on the 'gas' EVER when backing. Going in idle is just fast enough. the faster you go, the easier it will be to get into trouble.

 

My thing is this: If I can back my 6x12 utility trailer at the house, I can back a 53'. It's easier to back a bigger trailer because they don't react as quickly. Keep your hands on the bottom of the wheel. WATCH YOUR MIRRORS AT ALL TIMES!!!! Look back and forth. I've seen too many drivers concentrate on one mirror or the other. You've got two of them. Use them. Don't move the wheel more than 6-8" at a time and don't get in a hurry. Don't be a supertrucker about it. Speed isn't always best. If you see the trailer drifting to the right, move the wheel, in small increments, to the right, and vice versa. Get it right the first time. Once you get pretty good at it, quicken the pace. Just don't ever get comfortable with it. You never know what's going to happen. If you can get help from a spotter, use them. Just make sure that THEY know what they're doing. There's no shame in asking for help. I've backed into places in big cities and cut off traffic on four-lane roads. But I called the police first to let them know what was going on. Most of the time, they'll send a bear out and he/she will help you stop traffic with the blue-light special. Be smart and tactful about it and you'll have no problems.

 

In the original poster's situation which is 3 1/2 DAYS of 'driving' , he should get into the habit of staying ahead of the trailer. This means turning the wheel fast enough so that the trailer won't drift. All trucks and trailers react differently and all tandem settings react differently. I was a yard jockey also and I can tell you that learning to react fast and stay ahead of your trailer is the key. You don't have to have a death grip on the wheel and spin the wheel into oblivion but you should be 'on top of the situation' at all times.

 

I laughed, I cried, I kissed $40 goodbye. I failed my Road Test today (85 points off). I forgot to get out and look before the parallel park. My parallel parking and straight back both sucked (15 points off each). I paid another $40 to DMV. My school will be scheduling a new road test between now and November 3rd. Hopefully, my CDL school will allow me to practice some more before taking it again as I would rather not make another donation to DMV.

In the mean time, the wife is pissed and I am sad. Until the school allows me come back to practice, I am stuck with nothing to do but wait. Actually, I have to study for my Coil Endorsement as Roehl requires it prior to orientation.

 

Parallel park?! Holy crap.... Things are easier down here then. Our CDL licensing exam consisted of pre-trip, straight-line backing, a forward serpentine, alley docking, and a road test. I thought we had it bad!!! I'm sorry about the bad day, driver. You'll get it. Best of luck to you!!

 

Whuts a coil endorsement?

 

You need a special endorsement to secure coils (cable) to a trailer. Chain lengths needed and thicknesses required to secure the load.